Oilers' frustration turning to anger

Edmonton, Dallas play Game 6 tonight; Stars lead series, 3-2

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) - The frustration the Edmonton Oilers were feeling in their first-round NHL playoff series against the Dallas Stars has turned to anger.

Dallas beat Edmonton 4-3 in overtime Thursday to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The Oilers, who rallied from a two-goal deficit only to lose Thursday night, are trying to use the loss as motivation for Game 6 on Saturday.

"It was a devastating loss, but it can generate the right kind of anger," Oilers defenseman Janne Niinimaa said. "For me, it's natural. I feel so mad and so bad. ... I wanted to play them again last night."

"You can't play such a physical game and a physical battle and be so elated one day and just be so disappointed the next and physically beat each other up and not hate each other," Weight said. "You are not trying to hurt each other, but you hate each other. It's just part of the playoffs.

"It's probably a strong word, but there's really no other word that fits."

Edmonton's Ryan Smyth said the animosity between the teams has evolved from The Oilers playing the Stars five straight years in the playoffs. Dallas has won four of the series.

Smyth singled out Stars captain Derian Hatcher as one of the players he loves to hate.

"He won a Cup and I haven't and I will do whatever it takes to take him down or to win the series, whether it is getting hit from him of giving hits," Smyth said. "They know what it takes to win. I would sure like to have that feeling."

Edmonton coach Craig MacTavish has been amazed at the toughness the Oilers.

"It's self-sacrifice," MacTavish said. "That's where you generate the most respect from your teammates. It's all good character stuff."

Stars coach Ken Hitchcock believes the intensity of the series might make it difficult for the winner to advance beyond the next round.

"What is a concern is that whoever wins this series knows there is another team that is going to have an advantage," Hitchcock said. "This is going to take a lot out of us. It's a big advantage for the next team that we play."

MacTavish will worry about the consequences of this series when the time comes.

"We're not even thinking about that right now," he said. "We're thinking about Game 6 and how we feel."